Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.
-Galatians 6:2-5
As Christ-followers, we are called to live in community. We are meant to function as a body and build each other up in love and truth. It was not good for man to be alone, and in the same sense we are not meant to do this life alone.
Carry each other’s burdens…
We don’t walk away from hard situations. We should not see the hungry, naked, fatherless child and turn the other direction. We don’t hear about a death, a diagnosis, or a divorce and state “I’ll pray for you,” then secretly thank God, that it is not us. We are called to rejoice when others rejoice and mourn when others mourn.
Some days I don’t feel much like rejoicing.
Sometimes it feels pretty inconvenient to mourn.
Jesus was so moved with compassion by his people that He couldn’t help but heal. He was so burdened by seeing justice and righteous on this earth that he FULLY submitted to His Father.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
-Matthew 11:30
Jesus carries a burden that we must carry. He has a vision that we must catch sight of.
Freedom
Life
Truth
EVERY nation. EVERY tribe. EVERY tongue.
…for each one should carry his own load.
Good news. Jesus loves you and he loves your neighbor.
Don’t lightly brush this off. I think if we would let those words sink in and not dismiss the fact that our Father in heaven, our Jesus on earth and our Holy Spirit the pursuer and romancer of all hearts L.O.V.E. loves us – our identity issues would fade, our fear of man would disappear, and our self focus would diminish.
He loves you so much that when He hands you a burden, He carries it WITH you.
YOU ARE NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF YOUR:
Family
Neighbor
Best friend
Teammate
Squad
You can push and pull all you like, but the Lord is the one who will move him/her/them.
When you stand before the King of Kings, he is not going to reprimand you for the choices that your team made, or for your parent’s prayer life or for the amount of time your spouse spent reading the bible. He will be looking at no one else but you.
So, yes, carry burdens. Pursue and encourage. Use insight that the Lord has given you to fight for and intercede over a situation. Exhort and uplift BUT at the end of the day, we are each responsible for our own load. We are each responsible for our own walk.
Doesn’t that free you from comparison? Doesn’t that free you from condemnation? If I am trying my hardest to see a change in someone, if I am trying to shift the atmosphere of the room, striving for the Holy Spirit to be present, then I am going to wear myself out. I will either place condemnation on myself for not “praying correctly” or “doing enough” OR I will place condemnation on someone else for not choosing in.
And THAT is not freedom OR trust in our Father.
You are not excused from loving your neighbor. In fact, with laying down the responsibility of their spiritual growth, you have the freedom to love them MORE.
Trust that Jesus loves them WAY more than you do.
